Ozone cleaning system

ABSTRACT

An industrial cleaning system that produces and distributes an aqueous ozone solution is described. The system provides a centralized system for producing the aqueous ozone solution and distributing the aqueous ozone solution to different application points at different flow rates and concentrations. The system includes an ozone generator for generating ozone gas, which is injected into a supply of water to form the aqueous ozone solution. A reaction vessel receives the aqueous ozone solution from the injector. The reaction vessel reduces the bubbles of ozone gas in the aqueous ozone solution to increase the oxidation reduction potential of the aqueous ozone solution.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/894,476 filed on Mar. 14, 2007. The disclosure of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. ______, titled Reaction Vessel for an OzoneCleaning System, Attorney Docket Number 054974-123263, filed Mar. 13,2008, invented by Daniel W. Lynn, is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety. The disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,titled Aqueous Ozone Solution for Ozone Cleaning System, Attorney DocketNumber 054974-Solution, filed Mar. 13, 2008, invented by Daniel W. Lynn,is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system of providing an aqueoussolution of ozone for industrial cleaning applications. In particular,the present invention relates to a system for maintaining a consistentconcentration of ozone in the aqueous solution with fewer and smallergas bubbles.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Ozone in a solution has been previously used for cleaning andsanitizing. Maintaining a solution with a consistent ozone concentrationhas proven difficult. Ozone is unstable, which provides for it cleaningand sanitizing capabilities, but also makes consistent ozone levelsdifficult to maintain in a solution. If the ozone solution has too muchozone or large bubbles of ozone, then off-gassing problems may occur, asthe excess ozone is released into the work facility creatingenvironmental problems and possible violating workplace safetyregulations. If the solution has too little ozone, then the cleaning andsterilizing may not be as effective as desired.

Other systems utilize a spraying device that simultaneously sprays twoseparate streams of water and an ozone solution. The stream of water isapplied at high pressure for removing particles and the ozone solutionis applied for sanitizing.

Ozone solutions have proven difficult to consistently and uniformlyprepare in sufficient quantities required for industrial cleaningapplications.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The system produces an aqueous ozone solution to attack and destroypathogens and to act as a no-rinse sanitizer for hard surfaces in avariety of applications, especially for industrial cleaning applicationsin facilities related to food processing. The system may be used formany different sanitation applications in many different industries andfacilities. For example, the system may be used in cosmeticmanufacturing facilities, hospitals, fast food outlets, individualhomes, etc. The system may be used with a variety of different “clean inplace” systems, such as, for example, water-bottling facilities andequipment, breweries and brewing equipment, ethanol processingfacilities, water-bottling facilities and equipment, snack foodprocessing facilities, cooling towers etc. The use of the system is notlimited to any particular type of industry or application type.

The system entrains ozone gas into water, forming the aqueous ozonesolution. The system provides an applied dosage of an aqueous ozonesolution that is consistent over time in terms of concentration and flowrate.

The system comprises an ozone generator for producing ozone gas. Theozone generator directs the ozone gas to an injector, which is also incommunication with a supply of water. The injector injects ozone gasfrom the ozone generator into the water from the supply of water to formthe aqueous ozone solution. A reaction vessel receives the aqueous ozonesolution from the injector and additional water from the water supply.The reaction vessel comprises a conical-shaped vessel having a pluralityof edges or ridges for reducing a bubble size of the ozone gas in theaqueous ozone solution. A pump in communication with the reaction vesseldistributes the aqueous ozone solution to the hard surfaces for cleaningthe hard surfaces.

The system reduces the amount of bubbles and the bubble size of theozone gas in the aqueous ozone solution, which allows for the system toproduce an aqueous ozone solution with a greater concentration of ozonegas and a higher oxidation reduction potential. Since the bubbles ofozone are smaller and fewer than the bubbles of ozone in a typical ozonesolution, the system allows the aqueous ozone solution to contain agreater amount of ozone and have the higher oxidation reductionpotential. This provides for a more effective cleaning and sanitizingsystem.

The hard surfaces may include, for example, conveyor systems, processingequipment, floors, tables, etc. The solution of aqueous ozone may beapplied at a high pressure to the hard surfaces, and is effective forsanitizing the hard surfaces and removing soils and bulk materials fromthe hard surfaces. When applied at high pressure, the solutionpenetrates and destroys the soils and oxides of a biofilm that acts asthe bond or glue that allows the soils and oxides to attach themselvesto the hard surfaces.

The system is a chemical-free system that destroys the biofilm on hardsurfaces during food processing production in food processingfacilities. The system allows for continuous or extended production inthe facility. When installed in processing facilities, the hard surfacescan be maintained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week accomplishing both amicrobial reduction as well as improving aesthetics. The system allowsthe plant to do mid-shift sanitation or a cleaning application that theplant could not do with present conventional systems (because ozone isapproved by the Food and Drug Administration for direct food contact andchemicals are not).

The system provides a chemical-free, high pressure cleaning system thatreplaces present conventional cleaning systems. The system reduces theneed for chemicals, hot water, and labor. As such, the processorsoperating costs may be reduced by 50%. Conventional cleaning systemsoften require the use of warm or hot water, which may form condensationon the hard surfaces. The condensation may provide for or encourage thegrowth of microbes. Because the system only uses cold water,condensation is not likely to form on the hard surfaces. The system alsoreduces the hydraulic load on the waste-water treatment system andeliminates the need to treat the chemicals that would be present inconventional wastewater discharge streams.

Ozone gas is generally unstable (a property that gives ozone itsextraordinary oxidizing capabilities). Ozone gas cannot be packaged orstored and must be generated on site. The system includes an on-siteozone generator combined with an air preparation unit and an injector tosafely get the ozone into the water. As such, the system requires nodrums to store ozone, records and reports relating to the drums, ordisposal concerns relating to the drums.

The use of ozone as cleaning and sterilizing agent is a chemicaltreatment like other oxidizers, including chlorine, potassiumpermanganate, hydrogen peroxide, etc. Ozone's extraordinary speed andpower sets ozone apart from the other oxidizers, but there are rules tobe followed in its application. Stoichiometric (chemical value)calculation charts and formulas are readily available for all commoninorganic contaminants, including but not limited to, iron, manganese,sulfide compounds. Simple formulas for flow and contaminant loading makeozone generator sizing easy. With contact times in the 2-6 minute rangefor common contaminants, instead of the 20-30 minute times associatedwith chlorination, the system described herein is simpler, more compactand efficient than traditional cleaning treatments.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a process flow diagram of the ozone cleaning system.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the reaction vessel.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the compressed dry air supply skid.

FIG. 4 shows a view of the ozone generation skid.

FIG. 5 shows a view of the mixing skid.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the reaction vessel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An ozone system 10 for applying an aqueous solution of ozone will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying Figures. The system 10provides many advantages over the prior art. The system 10 provides acentralized system for producing an aqueous ozone solution, i.e., theaqueous ozone solution is prepared and distributed from a centrallocation in an industrial facility to different application pointsthroughout the industrial facility. The system 10 provides for thedistribution of the aqueous ozone solution at different flow rates andat different concentrations to the different application points. Thesystem 10 monitors and maintains the ozone concentration and flow rateof the aqueous ozone solution at desired levels. The system 10 providesa uniform and consistent aqueous ozone solution without off-gassingproblems. Fluctuations in the concentration of ozone in the aqueousozone solution are kept to a minimum with the aid of monitoring systemsthat monitor the concentration of ozone in the aqueous ozone solutionand modulate levels of ozone gas introduced into the aqueous ozonesolution. The system 10 increases the oxidation reaction potential of aconventional aqueous ozone solution by reducing the bubble size of ozonegas and minimizing the amount of bubbles of ozone in the aqueous ozonesolution.

A process flow diagram for the system is shown in FIG. 1. A controlpanel/central server 50 comprising a programmable logic controller anduser interface is in electrical communication with the components of thesystem 10 to operate, monitor, and direct the system 10. The controlpanel/central server 50 regulates the concentration of ozone in theozonated water solution and the flow of ozonated water solution. Thecontrol panel/central server 50 is in electrical communication with thevarious components, systems and assemblies of the system 10 to ensurethat the desired flow and concentration of the ozonated water solutionare maintained. The control panel/central server 50 regulates the flowand amount of ozone gas that is entrained in the solution. The system 10produces high pressure and high volumes of the ozonated water solutionto clean and sanitize industrial facilities. The system 10 may be scaleddepending upon its application, for example, the system 10 may providelower volumes, e.g., 1 gallon per minute and higher volumes, e.g. 10,000gallons per minute.

Ozone gas for use with the system 10 is produced from ambient air. Animportant feature of the system 10 is that it ensures that a consistentsupply of dried air is delivered to oxygen concentrators 160, whichproduce essentially pure oxygen gas for ozone generation in ozonegenerators 240, such that the system 10 provides a sufficient quantityof ozone gas with consistent quality. The consistent supply of dried airultimately assists in creating the consistent supply of the aqueousozonated solution produced by the system 10.

The system 10 draws in the ambient air to a compressed dry air supplyskid 100 (shown in FIG. 3) comprising an air compressor 120, a dryer140, a dew point monitor 150, the oxygen concentrators 160, and anoxygen storage tank 180. The air compressor 120 is in communication withthe dryer 140. The air compressor 120 compresses the ambient air anddelivers the compressed air to the dryer 140. The compressed air isdried in the dryer 140. The dryer 140 is in communication with the dewpoint monitor 150, which measures the dew point of air exiting the dryer140. A suitable dew point monitor 150 is commercially available fromVaisala Instruments.

From the drew point monitor 150, the compressed and dried air passes tothe oxygen concentrators 160, which produce essentially pure oxygen gasfrom the dried and compressed air that is stored in the oxygen storagetank 180. The oxygen storage tank 180 acts as a storage and supplyreservoir of oxygen for ozone generation. Excess oxygen is stored in theoxygen storage tank.

Maintaining a high concentration of oxygen in the oxygen gas assists increating the consistent supply of the aqueous ozonated solution producedby the system 10. Generally, the essentially pure oxygen gas willcontain over 90% pure oxygen, with a preferred range of approximately95% to 98% pure oxygen. The oxygen concentrators 160 may use a pressureswing adsorption process using a molecular sieve. A suitable oxygenconcentrator 160 is commercially available from the AirSep Corporation.The compressed dry air supply skid 100 may further include one or morefilters 132 for oil and contaminant removal, one or more pressureindicators 134 for monitoring the pressures of the compressed air andthe stored oxygen gas in the oxygen storage tank 180, and one or morepressure relief valves 136 for discharging pressurized gas. A flowcontroller 138 modulates the flow of oxygen gas from the oxygenconcentrators 160 to the oxygen storage tank 180, while one of thepressure indicators 134 and one of the pressure relief valves 136 isalso employed to monitor and provide pressure relief for the oxygen gasdirected to the oxygen storage tank 180 from the oxygen concentrators160.

The essentially pure oxygen gas is delivered to an ozone generation skid200 (shown in FIG. 4) comprising the ozone generator 240, an ozonedestruct unit 260, a distribution manifold 270, and one or more massflow controllers 305. The ozone generation skid produces ozone anddirects it via the distribution manifold 270 and the one or more massflow controllers 305 to one or more mixing skids 300 (shown in FIG. 5).

The ozone generator 240 produces ozone gas from the essentially pureoxygen gas. The ozone generator 240 is in communication with the oxygenstorage tank 180. The ozone generator 240 is configured with a coolingsystem, such as a cool-water recirculation jacket 243, to maintain theozone generator 240 at under approximately 100° F. The ozone generatormay utilize a corona discharge method of ozone generation. Maintaining acool temperature is preferred to regulate ozone concentration, as higherconcentrations of ozone gas are achieved from the ozone generator 240when the temperature of the ozone generator 240 is maintained at thesecool levels. The ozone destruct unit 260 receives excess ozone or ozonethat has separated from the aqueous ozone solution in other parts of thesystem 10 for destruction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ozone generation skid 200 comprises one or moreozone generators 240. Some of the one or more ozone generators may onlybe used in a backup capacity, i.e., when one of the previouslyoperational ozone generators 240 require maintenance or breaks-down. Assuch, the industrial facility will not need to shut down for aconventional cleaning process when one of the ozone generators 240 isnon-operational. Depending on the overall size of the system 10, up to30 or more ozone generators 240 may be included in the ozone generationskid 200. The ozone generators 240 are in electrical communication withthe control panel/central server 50 in order to monitor and controltheir operation.

The ozone generation skid 200 includes the distribution manifold 270 andthe mass flow controllers 305 for disseminating the ozone gas to the oneor more mixing skids 300 for mixing with water to produce the aqueousozone solution. The distribution manifold 270 is in communication withthe ozone generators 240. An isolation valve 242, an air actuated ballvalve 244, and a back flow preventer 246 are positioned between theozone generator 240 and the distribution manifold 270 to direct the flowof ozone gas from the ozone generator 240 to the distribution manifold270.

The mass flow controllers 305 are in electrical communication with thecontrol panel/central server 50 for modulating the flow of the ozonegas. A suitable mass flow controller 305 is commercially available fromEldrige, Products, Inc.

Typically, the distribution manifold 270 will branch into separate lineseach having a mass flow controller 305 a-g in communication with each ofthe one or more mixing skids 300 a-g. Additional isolation valves 242are configured between the mass flow controllers 305 a-g and thedistribution manifold 270. The number of mixing skids 300 a-g and massflow controllers 305 a-g will depend upon the application requirementsof the system 10. For example, certain industrial facilities may onlyrequire two to four mixing skids 300 a-g and mass flow controllers 305a-g, while other industrial facilities may require six to eight mixingskids 300 a-g and mass flow controllers 305 a-g. The distributionmanifold 270 further directs ozone gas to an auxiliary use, such as adeodorizer, or to the ozone destruction unit 260.

As shown in FIG. 5, the one or more mixing skids 300 comprise a venturi310, a reaction vessel 350, a contact tank 405, a degassing separator420, a demister 440, a mixing ozone monitor 460, and a pump 480. At themixing skids 300, water from the water supply 330 and ozone gas from theozone generation skid 200 are directed via lines, hoses, and/or pipingto the venturi 310 for forming an aqueous ozone solution. The venturi310 acts as an injector, i.e., it injects the ozone gas into the water.A preferred injector is commercially available from the Mazzei InjectorCorporation; however, any of a variety of injectors could be utilized inthe one or more mixing skids 300.

As previously noted, before reaching the venturi 310, the ozone gaspasses through the one or more mass flow controllers 305 a-g, whichmeasures the flow of ozone to the venturi 310 and modulates the flow ofozone to the venturi 310. The mass flow controllers 305 a-g are inelectrical communication with the control panel/central server 50 inorder regulate and control the flow of ozone gas through the mass flowcontrollers 305 a-g. The operator of the system may adjust the flow ofozone to the venturi 310 to obtain the desired ozone concentrationslevel in the aqueous ozone solution.

Although an aqueous ozone solution has now been formed by the venturi310, the aqueous ozone solution is now directed to the reaction vessel350 for further processing to reduce the bubble size of the ozone gas inthe aqueous ozone solution and number of bubbles and to increase theconcentration of ozone in the aqueous ozone solution as well as itsoxidation reduction potential. Decreasing the bubble size of the ozonegas also assists in maintaining a uniform concentration of ozone gas inthe aqueous ozone solution.

The operation and structure of the reaction vessel 350 will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 2. The aqueous ozone solutionfrom the venturi 310 is discharged into the bottom of reaction vessel350 at an inlet port 355. The aqueous ozone solution travels up an innervortex assembly sleeve 370 in the interior of the reaction vessel 350.

Nozzles 360 discharge a stream of fresh water, at approximately 50 to 55psi, at the top of the reaction vessel 350 into the inner vortexassembly sleeve 370. The water from the nozzles 360 dilutes the aqueousozone solution from the venturi 310. The nozzles 360 receive the freshwater from the water supply 330 through a fresh water inlet 345 and aregulator 348. The regulator 348 is in electrical communication with thecontrol panel/central server 50. The regulator 348 provides pressurereadings to the control panel/central server 50, and the regulator 348modulates the pressure and flow of fresh water into the inner vortexassembly sleeve 370 at the direction of the control panel/central server50. The pressure in the inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 is varied toaccommodate the desired flow rate of the aqueous ozonated water solutionfrom the particular mixing skid 300 a-g. If the pressure in the innervortex assembly sleeve 370 is too high, then off-gassing problems ofozone gas may occur.

The inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 is shown in FIG. 2. The innervortex assembly sleeve 370 is under a pressure of approximately 50 psito approximately 125 psi. The inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 comprisesa conical-shaped surface 385. The aqueous ozone solution enters thebottom of the reaction vessel 350 at the inlet port 355, while freshwater is discharged from nozzles 360 toward the entering aqueous ozonesolution.

From the inlet port 355, the aqueous ozone solution enters a cavity 358,which acts as a reservoir to receive the aqueous ozone solution. Anopening 365 separates the conical-shaped surface 385 from the cavity358. The opening 365 is in fluidic communication with the cavity 358 andthe inner vortex assembly sleeve 370. The inner vortex assembly sleeve370 has a narrow diameter toward the inlet port 355 and the opening 365and gradually increases in diameter toward an outlet 390, which createsthe conical-shaped surface 385. The opening 365 is at the narrowestpoint of the conical-shaped surface 385.

The nozzles 360 direct the fresh water at the conical-shaped surface385. Specifically, the nozzles 360 direct the fresh water at the slopingsurfaces of the conical-shaped surface 385. The conical-shaped surfacehas sloping surfaces or sides leading to the opening 365. The directionof the nozzles 360 and the conical-shaped surface 385 imparts a rotatingaction or a vortex to the fresh water, and the fresh water rotates aboutthe conical-shaped surface 385 toward the opening 365. As such, freshwater from the nozzles 360 moves down the conical-shaped surface 385 inthe rotating manner, under centrifugal force, which crushes ozone gasbubbles in the aqueous ozone water solution entering the inner vortexassembly sleeve 370 through the opening 365 from the cavity 358 andcrushes ozone gas bubbles in the aqueous ozone water solution in thecavity 358.

At the opening 365, some of the rotating fresh water from the nozzles360 may enter the cavity 358. Ozone gas from the aqueous ozone solutionmay diffuse with the fresh water in the cavity 358 and at the opening365. At the opening 365, the aqueous ozone solution from the cavity 358passes into a cone void 388, which is the generally hollow centralregion of the inner vortex assembly sleeve 370, as defined by theconical-shaped surface 385.

The inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 comprises approximately 10 toapproximately 50 of the edges 380 on the conical-shaped surface 385.Each of the edges 380 may comprise a generally perpendicular angle aboveand below the adjacent edge 380. The edges 380 form a stair-step likesurface for the conical-shaped surface 385. The edges 380 surround aperimeter of the cone void 388. The edges 380 are in contact with thehollow interior, i.e., the cone void 388. Other constructions,geometries, or surfaces on the conical-shaped surface 385 may beemployed to reduce the bubble size of the ozone gas. For example, asshown in FIG. 6, the conical-shaped surface 385 may include a pluralityof concentric ridges 382 about the conical-shaped surface 385.

The inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 turns the aqueous ozone solution,under high pressure, around and against the series of edges 380 on theinterior conical shaped surface 385 of the inner vortex assembly sleeve370. The interaction of the fresh water, the aqueous ozone solution, andthe edges 380 crush and break the ozone gas into smaller and smallerbubbles in the aqueous ozone solution, which exits the reaction vessel350 at the outlet 390. Off-gassing of ozone gas into the cone void 388is re-mixed into aqueous ozone solution. The conical-shaped surface 385and discharge of fresh water from the nozzles 360 causes the water tocirculate and form a vortex which mixes with the aqueous ozone solutionpassing through the inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 and exiting at theoutlet 390. The sleeve 370 is significant to cause the necessary breakdown of the microscopic bubbles of ozone gas and allows the maximummolar absorptivity of the ozone gas into the aqueous solution. Theaqueous ozone solution is forced into a saturated aqueous ozone solutionhaving an ozone concentration of up to approximately 20 ppm and anoxidation reaction potential of up to approximately 2.6. Breaking downthe bubbles of ozone into smaller bubbles of ozone increases theoxidation reduction potential of the ozone in the aqueous ozonesolution. The greater oxidation reduction potential of the aqueous ozonesolution water allows the ozone to act not only as a sanitizer, but as adegreaser and therefore has more oxidizing power than conventionallymixed solutions.

Typically, the aqueous ozone solution entering the reaction vessel 350at the inlet port 355 and the fresh water entering the reaction vesselforms a solution that is approximately 10% to approximately 20% freshwater, i.e., approximately 1 part by volume fresh water from the watersupply is mixed with approximately 4 parts to approximately 9 parts byvolume aqueous ozone solution from the inlet port 355. However, due tothe crushing of the ozone bubbles in the reaction vessel 350, the ORPvalue for the aqueous ozone solution exiting the outlet 390 isapproximately the same as the ORP value for the aqueous ozone solutionentering the inlet 355, despite the dilution of the aqueous ozonesolution entering the inlet 355 by the fresh water from the nozzles 360.

The reaction vessel 350 and the inner vortex assembly sleeve may be madefrom stainless steel, metal alloys, or hard plastic materials, such aschlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC).

From the outlet port 390 of the reaction vessel 350, the aqueous ozonesolution is directed to the contact tank 405 and a degassing separator420 in communication with the reaction vessel 350. The contact tank 405should have a volume approximately twice the desired amount of volume ofaqueous ozone solution. For example, if the mixing skid 300 a isproviding 100 gallons/per minute in flow, then the contact tank 405should have a capacity of approximately 200 gallons. As such, in thisparticular example, the solution is spending approximately two minutesin the contact tank 405.

Large gas bubbles are separated from the aqueous ozone solution in thedegassing separator 420. The degassing separator is important to removethe excess ozone bubbles from the aqueous ozone solution to reduce thelevels of free ozone gas released at an application point during thespraying of the aqueous ozone solution, which in high concentrationscould breach OSHA regulations. The separated gas bubbles are directed toa demister 440, where a liquid component of the separated gas bubble iscollected and drained, while an ozone gas component of the separated gasbubbles is directed from the demister 440 to the ozone destruction unit260.

The aqueous ozone solution exiting the degassing separator 420 passesthrough and the mixing ozone monitor 460 and on to one or more pumps 480via piping, hosing and/or lines. Depending upon the cleaning andsanitizing application of the system 10, the aqueous ozone solution maybe directed to one or more of the pumps 480 which may pump the aqueousozone solution at different flow rates and pressures from the mixingskid 300. The aqueous ozone solution is pumped from the mixing skid 300via distribution piping/hosing 510 in communication with the pumps 480to one or more applicators 530 for applying the aqueous ozone solutionto the hard surfaces and other items for sanitation. The applicators 530include spray wands, nozzles, brushes, nebulizers, spray guns and thelike, and various combinations thereof. Each applicator 530 includes anapplicator ozone monitor 550.

The concentration of the aqueous ozone solution is monitored by theapplicator ozone monitor 550, which measures the exact concentration ofozone in the aqueous ozone solution exiting from the applicator 530. Theplant operator may monitor and adjust the concentration of ozone in theaqueous ozone solution based on readings from the applicator ozonemonitor 550.

The applicator ozone monitor 550 is in electrical communication with thecontrol panel/central server 50. If the applicator ozone monitor 550indicates that the levels of ozone in the aqueous ozone solution are toolow, then the operator or automated systems in the control panel/centralserver 50 may adjust the mass flow controller 305 to increase the amountof ozone gas directed to the venturi 310, such that concentration levelsof ozone in the aqueous ozone solution at the applicator ozone monitor550 are increased.

The system 10 may comprise one or mixing skids 300 with one or morepumps 480 supplying one or more applicators 530. The one or more pumps480 may pump the aqueous ozone solution at different rates and atdifferent concentrations to the different applicators 530. The system 10may be customized, depending upon a specific industrial facility and itsspecific cleaning needs. For example, the system 10 may comprise avariety of high pressure and low pressure applicators 530 and withcertain applicators applying different concentrations of aqueous ozonesolution. The system 10 provides an applied dosage of an aqueous ozonesolution that is consistent over time in terms of the desiredconcentration and flow rate to the one or more applicators 530. Thecontrol panel/central server 50, in conjunction with the applicatorozone monitor 550 and mass flow controllers 305, monitor and regulatethe concentration and flow of the aqueous ozone solution.

The reaction vessel 350 is important to the mass transfer of ozone gasin the water, i.e., how the ozone gas is dissolved into the water toform the aqueous ozone solution. The system 10 produces a saturatedaqueous ozone solution having an ozone concentration of up toapproximately 20 ppm.

The system 10, and specifically the reaction vessel 350, help reduce thenumber of bubbles and create the smallest possible bubbles of ozone inthe aqueous ozone solution in order to produce the saturated aqueousozone solution with an ozone concentration of up to approximately 20 ppmand an oxidation reduction potential of 2.6. The amount of ozonedissolved into the water depends, in part, on the surface area of thegas/water interaction. The smaller the bubble, the better the masstransfer because one cubic inch of tiny bubbles has much more surfacearea than a single, one cubic inch bubble.

The edges 380 on the inner vortex assembly sleeve 370 assist inphysically reducing the bubble size of the ozone gas. As the aqueousozone solution is forced through the inner vortex assembly sleeve 370,the bubbles of ozone contact the edges 380 and break into smaller andsmaller bubbles. The smaller bubbles dissolving in the water help tosaturate the aqueous ozone solution with ozone.

The pressure applied in the reaction vessel 350, of approximately 50 psito approximately 125 psi, also improves the mass transfer between thebubbles of ozone gas and the water. The higher the pressure, the more a“squeeze” is put on the transfer of gas bubbles into the water enhancingthe process of dissolving the gas bubbles into the aqueous ozonesolution and creating the saturated aqueous ozone solution. The higherpressure also forces the gas bubbles against the edges 380 furtherbreaking them down into smaller bubbles.

The temperature of the water is also an important consideration in themass transfer process. At cooler temperatures, the ozone diffuses betterin the water. At cooler water temperatures, the contact time between theozone gas bubbles and the water in forming the aqueous ozone solution isreduced. In general, it is difficult for water to absorb a gas when thewater is trying to become a gas. The water from the water supply 330should be at a temperature of approximately 33° F. to approximately 50°F.

The concentration of the ozone gas in the carrier gas also affects themass transfer of the ozone gas in to the water. Higher concentrations ofozone in the carrier gas will result in higher concentrations of ozonebeing absorbed into the aqueous ozone solution. Corona discharge ozonegeneration equipment generally creates higher concentrations of ozonegas in the carrier gas than ultraviolet types of ozone generation.

The system 10 produces an aqueous ozone solution to attack and destroypathogens and act as a no-rinse sanitizer for hard surfaces in a varietyof applications, especially industrial processing facilities related tofood processing. The solution of aqueous ozone is applied at highpressure to the hard surfaces, and is effective for the removal of soilsand bulk materials from the hard surfaces. When applied at highpressure, the solution penetrates the soils and oxides of the biofilmthat acts as the bond or glue that allows the soils and oxides to attachthemselves to the hard surfaces. The system 10 is designed to be thefirst totally chemical free system to destroy the biofilm on conveyorssystems and hard surfaces during food processing production allowing forcontinuous or extended production.

There are many applications for both high and low pressure. When thesolution discharges from the assembly, the solution could be channeledinto both a high pressure stream as well as a low pressure stream. Thehigh-pressure stream of aqueous ozone solution may be better suited forcleaning and sterilizing highly soiled hard surfaces due to the extraforce supplied by the high pressure aqueous ozone solution which willhelp destroy the biofilm adhering the soils to the hard surfaces. Thelow pressure aqueous ozone solution may be suited for the continuoussanitization of hard surface or application to a food item.

In the embodiment shown, the ozone produced by the ozone generator 240uses a high electrical discharge called “corona discharge” or “CD”. Thismethod is most commonly used to generate usable amounts of ozone formost water treatment applications. Corona discharge creates a small,controlled lightning storm, which involves producing a constant,controlled spark (corona) across an air gap through which a preparedfeed gas is passed. This feed gas may be air that has simply had most ofits moisture removed or air with enhanced oxygen levels. An importantaspect of using the corona discharge methods of ozone production isensuring that feed gas is dried at the dryer 140 to a dew point of atleast approximately −60 F. This is important because as the electricaldischarge splits the oxygen molecules, nitrogen molecules are also beingsplit, forming several species of nitrogen oxides, which are normallybenign. If feed gas is not sufficiently dried, then the nitrogen oxidescombine with moisture from ordinary humidity and form nitric acid, whichmay be corrosive to the system 10, the hard surfaces, and the industrialfacility. Consequently, proper air preparation is important for theoperation of the system 10. The relative strength of corona dischargeozone expressed as a percentage of concentration by weight is commonly0.5-1.7% for systems using dried air, and 1.0-6.0% when an oxygenenhanced feed gas is used.

A properly installed and operated system 10 poses no health hazards.While ozone is a toxic gas and the established concentration limits mustbe adhered to, the odor threshold of 0.01 ppm is far below the safetylimit of 0.1 ppm exposure over an eight hour period. The first symptomsof excessive ozone exposure are headaches, eye, nose or throatirritation or a shortness of breath. These symptoms can be relieved bythe simple application of fresh air. While no deaths have been reportedfrom ozone, sound safety practices deserve attention. Ozone off-gascontainment and destruction equipment for most water treatmentapplications is readily available and is usually a simple devicecontaining either activated carbon or manganese dioxide.

Ozone is a much more powerful oxidizer than chlorine. Based on EPAcharts of surface water CT values (disinfectant residual and timeconstant), chlorine CT values are nearly 100 times greater than ozone,meaning that ozone acts much more quickly than chlorine. Ozone createsnone of the trihalomethanes commonly associated with chlorine compoundsand properly matched to the application; ozone will reduce most organiccompounds to carbon dioxide, water and a little heat. Finally, as ozonesheds the atom of the oxygen causing its molecular instability duringthe oxidation process, it becomes oxygen again.

Facilities processing bottled water, perishable goods (meat, seafood,fruit, vegetables, etc.) are examples of ideal applications for thesystem 10. The fact that ozone efficiently oxidizes the organics thatcause taste, odor, and color problems without leaving a high residualhelps to simplify many water treatment. The lack of residual from ozonecleaning and santiation also makes ozone perfect for pre- andpost-treatment processes in wash pad recycle systems, where the use of achlorine compound would contribute to pH control or off gas problems.Additionally, ozone oxidizes and precipitates many metals and destroyssome pesticides without leaving a trace. Finally, ozone functions as apreoxidizer of iron, manganese and sulfide compounds, allowing for theirremoval by simple direct filtration. Ozone acts quickly and easily, andthe water quality resulting from its use is unmatched.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particularembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described,various modifications can be made thereto without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is not intendedthat the invention be limited by the specification; instead, the scopeof the present invention is intended to be limited only by the appendedclaims.

1. An industrial cleaning system that produces and distributes anaqueous ozone solution, comprising: an ozone generator for generatingozone gas; an injector in communication with the ozone generator and incommunication with a supply of water, wherein the injector injects ozonegas from the ozone generator into the water from the supply of water toform an aqueous ozone solution; a reaction vessel in fluidiccommunication with the injector for receiving the aqueous ozone solutionfrom the injector, wherein the reaction vessel comprises aconical-shaped surface having a plurality of edges or ridges; and a pumpin communication with the reaction vessel for distributing the aqueousozone solution.
 2. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein the aqueous ozone solution from the injector is discharged intothe bottom of the reaction vessel at an inlet port, and the aqueousozone solution travels up an inner vortex assembly sleeve in theinterior of the reaction vessel, and nozzles discharge a stream of freshwater at the top of the reaction vessel into the inner vortex assemblysleeve.
 3. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 2, whereinthe inner vortex assembly sleeve has a narrow diameter near the inletport and gradually increases in diameter toward an outlet which createsthe conical-shaped surface on the inner vortex assembly sleeve.
 4. Theindustrial cleaning system according to claim 1, further comprising adegassing separator in communication with the reaction vessel to removeozone bubbles from the aqueous ozone solution.
 5. The industrialcleaning system according to claim 1, further comprising an aircompressor in communication with a dryer to provide compressed air tothe dryer; a dew point monitor that measures the dew point of thecompressed and dried air from the dryer; an oxygen concentrator incommunication with the dryer that receive the compressed and dried airfrom the dryer to produce oxygen gas; an oxygen storage tank incommunication with the oxygen concentrator that receives the oxygen gasfrom the oxygen concentrator; the oxygen storage tank in supplycommunication with the ozone generators to supply the ozone generatorswith the oxygen gas.
 6. The industrial cleaning system according toclaim 1, wherein the oxygen gas is approximately 95% to approximately98% oxygen.
 7. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein the ozone generator comprises a cooling system to maintain theozone generator at under approximately 100° F.
 8. The industrialcleaning system according to claim 7, wherein the cooling system is awater-cooled jacket in contact with the ozone generator.
 9. Theindustrial cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the reactionvessel is in fluidic communication with the injector for receiving theaqueous ozone solution from the injector and in fluid communication withthe fresh water supply for supplying fresh water to the reaction vessel.10. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1, furthercomprising a distribution manifold in communication with the ozonegenerator to distribute the ozone gas, and one or more mass flowcontrollers to modulate the flow of ozone gas from the distributionmanifold.
 11. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1,further comprising an applicator in fluidic communication with the pump,wherein the applicator dispenses the aqueous ozone solution, and theapplicator comprises an ozone monitor to measure the concentration ofozone in the aqueous ozone solution dispensed from the applicator,wherein the ozone monitor is in electrical communication with a controlpanel that operates the system
 12. The industrial cleaning systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the control panel modulates the flow ofozone gas to the venturi based on the concentration of ozone in theaqueous ozone solution dispensed from the applicator as measured by theozone monitor.
 13. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein the system produces and distributes aqueous ozone solution withan oxidation reaction potential of up to approximately 2.6.
 14. Theindustrial cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the systemproduces and distributes an aqueous ozone solution with an ozoneconcentration of up to approximately 20 ppm.
 15. The industrial cleaningsystem according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel comprisesapproximately 10 to approximately 50 edges or ridges.
 16. The industrialcleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the edges comprise aperpendicular angle.
 17. The industrial cleaning system according toclaim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is in fluidic communication with asupply of water, and water mixes with the aqueous ozone solution in thereaction vessel to form a solution that is approximately 10% toapproximately 20% water.
 18. The industrial cleaning system according toclaim 1, wherein the reaction vessel is in fluidic communication with acontact tank.
 19. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1,wherein the system provides an applied dosage of an aqueous ozonesolution that is consistent over time in terms of concentration and flowrate.
 20. The industrial cleaning system according to claim 1, whereinthe system is centrally located in an industrial facility, and thesystem comprises one or pumps that are in fluidic communication with oneor more applicators for spraying the aqueous ozone solution in or aboutthe industrial facility.
 21. An industrial cleaning system that producesand distributes an aqueous ozone solution, comprising: an air supplyskid comprising an air dryer in communication with an oxygenconcentrator to produce oxygen gas; an ozone generation skid comprisingan ozone generator in communication with the air supply skid to receiveoxygen gas in order to generate ozone, the ozone generator incommunication with a distribution manifold for distributing the ozonegas to one or more mixing skids; and one or more mixing skids eachcomprising an injector in communication with the ozone generation skidand a supply of water, wherein the injector injects ozone gas from theozone generation skid into the water from the supply of water to form anaqueous ozone solution; a reaction vessel in fluidic communication withthe injector for receiving the aqueous ozone solution from the injector,the reaction vessel in fluidic communication with the supply of waterfor mixing water with the aqueous ozone solution from the injector, andone or more pumps in communication with the reaction vessel fordistributing the aqueous ozone solution to one or more applicators. 22.An industrial cleaning system that produces and distributes an aqueousozone solution, comprising: an ozone generator for generating ozone gas;an injector in communication with the ozone generator and in connectionwith a supply of water, wherein the injector injects ozone gas from theozone generator into the water from the supply of water to form anaqueous ozone solution; a reaction vessel in fluidic communication withthe injector for receiving the aqueous ozone solution from the injector;the reaction vessel in fluidic communication with the supply of waterfor mixing the aqueous ozone solution with the water, a pump incommunication with the reaction vessel for distributing the aqueousozone solution; a control panel that operates the system; and anapplicator in fluidic communication with the pump, wherein theapplicator dispenses the aqueous ozone solution, and the applicatorcomprises an ozone monitor to measure the concentration of ozone in theaqueous ozone solution dispensed from the applicator, wherein the ozonemonitor is in electrical communication with the control panel.
 23. Anindustrial cleaning system that produces and distributes an aqueousozone solution, comprising: an ozone generation system, comprising: anair compressor in communication with a dryer to provide compressed airto the dryer; an oxygen concentrator in communication with the dryerthat receive the compressed and dried air from the dryer to produceoxygen gas; an oxygen storage tank in communication with the oxygenconcentrator that receives the oxygen gas from the oxygen concentrator;the oxygen storage tank in supply communication with one or more ozonegenerators to supply the ozone generators with the oxygen gas togenerate ozone; an injector in communication with the one or more ozonegenerators and in communication with a supply of water, wherein theinjector injects ozone gas from the ozone generator into the water fromthe supply of water to form an aqueous ozone solution; a reaction vesselin fluidic communication with the injector for receiving the aqueousozone solution from the injector and reducing a bubble size of ozone gasin the aqueous ozone solution; a pump in communication with the reactionvessel for distributing the aqueous ozone solution; and a control panelthat operates the system.